Yanomamo Warfare

YANOMAMO WARFARE 

A constant cannot explain a variable. 

Proximate vs. Ultimate cause 

Positive vs. Negative feedback systems 

Resource Competition 

Protein Scarcity vs. Protein Deficiancy 

* * * * *   Infrastructure Structure Superstructure  

Resource Conflict Weiteri Complex Competition Warfare

and Alliances

Chagnon vs. Harris

Causes of Yanomamo Warfare

Chagnon: --Fighting over Women

--”We like meat, but we like women better.”

Harris: --Protein Scarcity

--Mechanism of Population Control

--Male Supremacy Complex

--female infanticide

Chagnon vs. HarrisProblems with Their Explanations

Chagnon: --Female shortage created by Yanomamo themselves.

--Only raid villages for women with which raiding already exists. (Warfare, therefore, not explained.)

--proximate explanation

-- emic explanation

Harris: --Protein Scarcity vs. Protein Deficiency (Big Mac)

--Yanomamo Shamatari population increase

-- from 200 to 2,000 people, 1900 - 1970

Evidence of Protein Scarcity

1. Five-day hunting expeditions with no success.

2. Primary game animal: Monkeys and other solitary animals

3. Lower protein consumption

a. than other Amazonian Indians.

b. Than the Dobe Ju/’hoansi

4. Reliance on insects for food. (cost/benefit)

5. Evidence of recent adaptation

a. Boil bananas only

b. Fish only with poison

c. Poorly constructed canoes

Amazonian IndiansProtein Consumption

Alliance Spiral Warfare Spiral

Nomohoni Genearalized ReciprocalReciprocity Woman Exchange Raid

The Feast

Spear FightsBalanced Mutual FeastingReciprocity Ax Fights

Club Fights

Side-Slapping Duels

Negative Sporadic and Chest-Pounding DuelsReciprocity Reciprocal

Trading

Yanomamo Politics: Alliance vs. Warfare

House Temperature

Decreases

Furnace Restores House Temperature

Negative Feedback System

Neutron Bomb

Positive Feedback System

M.I.R.V.

I.C.B.M.

Hydrogen Bomb

Atomic Bomb

Yanomamo Positive-Feedback System

Population Pressure

Central Villages Peripheral Villages

Larger Villages Smaller Villages 40 – 250 25 - 100

Villages Closer Villages Dispersed higher density lower density

Warfare Constant Raiding less Frequent Patanowa-teri raided some villages not involved

25 times in one year in raids for over 5 years

Alliance System Alliance System elaborate absent

Population Pressure(cont.)

Central Villages Peripheral Villages

Headman Headman greater authority little authority during warfare

Cultivation Cultivation more important less important

Fighting Fighting more elaborate less elaborate

Weiteri Complex Weiteri Complex more pronounced less pronounced

Population Pressure(cont.)

Central Villages Peripheral Villages

Female Infanticide Female Infanticide greater less

M/F M/F 0-14: 157 / 100 0-14: 121 / 100all ages: 130 / 100 all ages: 115 / 100

Polyandry Polyandry absent practiced

sexual liaisons is polyandry and sexual primary source of liaisons institutionalized conflict in village

Yanomamo Village Expansion

Yanomamo Sociopolitical Evolution